Shifting Attentional Focus
Often it is necessary to shift attentional focus during an event, and this attentional flexibility is known as the ability to alter the scope and focus of attention as demanded by the situation. Let’s take a golf example. As a golfer prepares to step up to the ball before teeing off, she needs to assess the external environment: the direction of the wind; the length of the fairway; and the positioning of water hazards, trees, and sand traps. This requires a broad–external focus. After appraising this information, she might recall experience with similar shots, note current playing conditions, and analyze the information she’s gathered to select a particular club and determine how to hit the ball. These considerations require a broad–internal focus.